A new multimedia exhibition that commemorates the Great War and life on the Home Front in Staffordshire through poetry and film is set to tour the county.
‘14’ documents the story of Staffordshire’s role during the First World War and includes a series of short films inspired by poems written by Staffordshire’s former Poet Laureate, Tom Wyre.
Visitors will get the chance to watch a mix of live footage, archive footage and animation, highlighting the outbreak of war, the horrors of the battlefield and life on the Home Front in Staffordshire. Mothers’ tales of sons joining the Western Front, farmers staying behind to support the war effort and the work of the thousands of women in the munitions factories – including the one at Swynnerton – are told through the series of 14 poems and films.
Tom Wyre was Staffordshire’s Poet Laureate in 2013-2014 and was commissioned to write 18 poems about the Great War and life on the home front.
[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]Tom said: “I was delighted to be asked to produce the poems originally as part of the county’s plans to commemorate the Great War. The videos and animation have really brought the poems to life. The Home Front of Staffordshire, Battle Fronts and beyond are wonderfully woven into the 35-minute short film. Feedback on the exhibition has been very positive too, with the poems continuing to connect with people on many levels both emotionally and intellectually.”[/box]
Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for learning and skills at Staffordshire County Council, added: “14 is a wonderful collection of poems and short films that really captures the mood of the Great War and life on the Home Front, and is able to get across many of the personal stories in a very creative and visual way.
“We have great artistic talent here in Staffordshire and it’s great to be able to showcase this across the county. 14 is one of many fantastic projects that is helping us understand more about the county’s important role during the conflict, while paying tribute to honour those who lost their lives in the war.”
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]’14′ was commissioned by Staffordshire County Council’s Libraries and Arts Service in partnership with the Archives and Heritage Service. The films were created byEmmy Award winners Junction 15, with students from Staffordshire University.
The exhibition is currently on display at Staffordshire Place 1 in Tipping Street, Stafford, until the end of January and will be at the Stafford Records Office throughout February, before it moves to Lichfield Record Office in March. Following this the exhibition will tour the county’s libraries.
For more information on the exhibition, details of dates and venues visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/poetlaureate
To read the poems or to watch the films online visit www.staffs14.uk You can find out more about all the Great War projects at www.staffordshiregreatwar.com [/box]
